Lent Challenge – Introduction

We’ve all got busy lives and struggle to fit in everything we think is enjoyable and/or important. Often the first thing to go is our time with God & our focus upon Him. We’re just starting our new series on Discipleship, we’ve just launched the redesigned website, and are just about to start Lent – so what better way to combine the three things than for me to set you a challenge to help you prepare you for Easter (and beyond!).

As you probably know, Lent is traditionally a time when people give something up for 40 days as we head towards Easter, recognising the fast Jesus undertook in the desert.

The Bible is clear that God considers 40 days to be a spiritually significant time period. Whenever God wanted to prepare someone, he took 40 days:

Noah’s life was transformed by 40 days of rain…

Moses was transformed by 40 days on Mount Sinai…

Elijah was transformed when God gave him 40 days of strength from a single meal…

Jesus was empowered by 40 days in the wilderness…

the disciples were transformed by 40 days with Jesus after His resurrection…

So what are you going to do with the 40 days of Lent this year? I have a challenge for you. I don’t want you to give up chocolate or coffee or TV or Facebook this Lent. I want you to commit to spending just 20 minutes a day focussed on God. I know, that sounds both possible (hey, what’s twenty minutes!) and impossible (but I’m far too busy to cram in *another* twenty minutes!).

For some, finding 20 minutes more per day will be a challenge in itself. Obviously that will mean making a sacrifice – giving something up. But what you give up can be different each day. One day you might spend less time on Facebook (gasp!), another day less time listening to music, another day tell your family ‘I’m off to spend 20 minutes with God – see you on the other side’.

But I challenge you to make 20 minutes each day which are devoted to God. You won’t be on your own – I’m going to prepare 40 reflections to help you and will post them each day for you to engage with whenever you chose to. They will include a verse or two of Scripture, or a short passage to read, or a video to watch, a thought to ponder or a challenge to undertake. Are you up for it?

“…let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” Romans 12:2

Make time for God this Lent and open yourself to the possibility that He will transform you through just 20 minutes a day. You will be able to find the posts here on the website, and linked via our Facebook page [‘like’ the page and turn on notifications so you don’t miss any updates), and via Twitter too. Choose the best option for you…

PS – the 40 days of Lent doesn’t include Sundays – so you can either enjoy them as a ‘day off’ or use them to catch up – oh, and you can eat as much chocolate as you like ;o)